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Iqiyi Inc (IQ)
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Iqiyi (IQ) AI Stock Analysis

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IQ

Iqiyi

(NASDAQ:IQ)

Rating:64Neutral
Price Target:
$2.00
▲(8.11% Upside)
Iqiyi's overall stock score is primarily driven by a positive earnings call highlighting revenue growth and strategic expansion. However, the financial performance reflects challenges in sustaining growth, with notable liabilities and potential future risks in cash generation. The stock's high P/E ratio further suggests overvaluation concerns, while technical indicators show neutral momentum.
Positive Factors
Content Investment
Investments in mini dramas have achieved early success, which could contribute to revenue in the long term.
Content Strategy
The company is making strategic efforts to diversify its content mix through micro-dramas and premium titles, showing early signs of positive progress.
Cost Management
The company appears to be actively managing costs and expenses.
Negative Factors
Profitability Concerns
Operating profit margin is expected to decline due to operating deleverage.
Revenue Decline
Total revenue is expected to decrease due to delays in TV dramas and weaker-than-expected ad performance.
Subscriber Pressure
Membership revenue estimates reflect a 9% year-over-year decline due to a subscriber setback.

Iqiyi (IQ) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Iqiyi Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptioniQIYI, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides online entertainment services under the iQIYI brand in the People's Republic of China. The company offers various products and services comprising internet video, online games, live broadcasting, online literature, animations, e-commerce, and social media platform. It operates a platform that provides a collection of internet video content, including professionally-produced content licensed from professional content providers and self-produced content. The company also provides membership, content distribution, and online advertising services. In addition, it operates iQIYI Show, a live broadcasting service that enables users to follow their favorite hosts, celebrities, and shows in real time through live broadcasting; and iQIYI Lite, an easy and quick access to the personalized videos based on their user preferences. Further, it is involved in the talent agency and IP licensing activities, as well as engages in developing a video community app. The company was formerly known as Qiyi.com, Inc. and changed its name to iQIYI, Inc. in November 2017. iQIYI, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Beijing, China. iQIYI, Inc. is a subsidiary of Baidu Holdings Limited.
How the Company Makes MoneyiQIYI generates revenue primarily through subscription services, where users pay for access to premium content. The company also earns money through advertising, with brands paying to display ads to iQIYI's large user base. Additionally, iQIYI has revenue streams from content distribution, licensing its original productions to other platforms and networks. The company also engages in partnerships with various content creators and production houses to expand its content offering and reach. Furthermore, iQIYI explores additional monetization opportunities through online gaming, live streaming, and membership services, leveraging its strong brand presence and technological capabilities.

Iqiyi Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 21, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -0.54%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 20, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflected a generally positive outlook with strong revenue growth in both overall and membership services, as well as significant expansion in the content ecosystem and international revenue. However, there are challenges in advertising revenue and increased costs, along with limitations in overseas business growth due to financial constraints.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Sequential Revenue Growth
Total revenues for the first quarter of 2025 were RMB7.2 billion, up 9% sequentially.
Strong Performance in Membership Services
Membership services revenue increased by 7% sequentially to RMB4.4 billion, driven by the success of long-form dramas.
Content Ecosystem Expansion
iQIYI expanded its micro drama portfolio to over 15,000 titles, seeing impressive growth in daily viewing time and unique visitors, with increases over 300% and 110% respectively.
International Revenue Growth
Revenues from regions outside of Mainland China increased by over 30% year-over-year, reaching a new high in the average daily number of subscribing members.
Debt Reduction and Financial Management
The outstanding principal balance of convertible bonds declined from RMB2.9 billion in Q1 2023 to RMB1.17 billion, resulting in a 30% reduction in net interest expense year-over-year.
Negative Updates
Advertising Revenue Decline
Advertising revenue decreased by 7% sequentially to RMB1.3 billion, attributed to macroeconomic pressures and seasonality.
Increased Content and Operating Costs
Content costs rose by 10% sequentially to RMB3.8 billion due to a higher number of premium dramas, and total operating expenses increased by 8% sequentially due to higher marketing spending.
Limited Overseas Financial Resources
The overseas business has experienced rapid growth but faces limitations due to financial resource restrictions.
Company Guidance
During iQIYI's first quarter 2025 earnings call, the company reported a 9% sequential increase in total revenue, reaching RMB7.2 billion. Membership services revenue grew by 7% to RMB4.4 billion, while advertising revenue decreased by 7% to RMB1.3 billion due to macroeconomic pressures and seasonality. Content cost rose by 10% to RMB3.8 billion, reflecting the launch of more premium dramas. The company highlighted its strategic focus on enhancing its content ecosystem, particularly through long-form and micro dramas, and leveraging AI to improve user experience. They also noted the promising growth in their overseas markets, with a 30% year-over-year revenue increase, although the contribution to total revenue remains relatively low. Looking forward, iQIYI aims to continue investing in content and user acquisition to drive future growth.

Iqiyi Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Iqiyi exhibits a mixed financial performance. Despite revenue volatility and low profit margins, the company shows resilience by recovering from previous losses. While the balance sheet indicates manageable debt levels, substantial liabilities are a concern. Strong cash flow management provides a buffer against uncertainties, yet growth sustainability remains a challenge.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Iqiyi's income statement shows fluctuating revenue with a slight decline in the TTM, indicating challenges in sustaining growth. Profit margins are low, with a gross profit margin of 23.7% and net profit margin of 1.0% for TTM, reflecting pressure on profitability. However, the company has managed to recover from previous losses, showcasing resilience.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals moderate leverage with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, indicating manageable but significant debt levels. The equity ratio stands at 28.9%, suggesting a stable capital structure. The company has improved its equity position over time, yet high liabilities remain a concern.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Iqiyi demonstrates strong cash flow management with a positive free cash flow of 1.4 billion in TTM and a free cash flow to net income ratio of 4.86. However, the decline in free cash flow growth rate indicates potential future challenges in cash generation.
BreakdownDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue29.23B31.87B29.00B30.55B29.71B
Gross Profit7.27B8.77B6.68B3.04B1.82B
EBITDA1.82B17.25B14.34B12.10B11.28B
Net Income764.06M1.93B-117.78M-6.11B-7.01B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets45.76B44.59B46.05B42.47B48.19B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments4.47B5.38B7.92B4.35B14.27B
Total Debt14.19B15.29B21.83B17.57B21.52B
Total Liabilities32.39B32.41B39.70B36.80B38.85B
Stockholders Equity13.37B12.09B6.25B5.19B9.26B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.94B3.25B-6.22B-6.35B-5.80B
Operating Cash Flow2.11B3.35B-5.95B-5.95B-5.41B
Investing Cash Flow-2.44B-1.74B1.26B1.26B159.30M
Financing Cash Flow-1.37B-4.29B-2.96B-2.96B9.37B

Iqiyi Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price1.85
Price Trends
50DMA
1.80
Positive
100DMA
1.89
Negative
200DMA
2.05
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.01
Positive
RSI
47.91
Neutral
STOCH
13.73
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For IQ, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 1.85 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1.90, above the 50-day MA of 1.80, and below the 200-day MA of 2.05, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.01 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 47.91 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 13.73 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for IQ.

Iqiyi Risk Analysis

Iqiyi disclosed 96 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Iqiyi reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 2 New Risks
1.
We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to settle redemption of our existing notes, or to repurchase such notes upon a fundamental change or on certain specific dates, and our future debt may contain limitations on our ability to pay cash upon conversion or to repurchase the notes. Q4, 2022
2.
The sale or availability for sale of substantial amounts of our ADSs could adversely affect their market price. Q4, 2022

Iqiyi Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (66)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
75
Outperform
$492.32B49.3743.55%14.28%46.86%
70
Outperform
$0.00-2.47%17.32%87.79%
66
Neutral
¥441.50B15.152.58%2.33%5.78%-11.37%
66
Neutral
$9.04B-0.11%1.70%-1.75%99.73%
64
Neutral
$1.78B44.152.21%-10.05%-85.30%
60
Neutral
$0.00-27.69%-5.58%-254.85%
47
Neutral
$9.04B-0.11%1.02%-1.75%99.73%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
IQ
Iqiyi
1.85
-1.30
-41.27%
PARA
Paramount Global Class B
12.31
2.03
19.75%
NFLX
Netflix
1,147.87
536.39
87.72%
ROKU
Roku
83.64
30.80
58.29%
PARAA
Paramount Global
17.87
-4.87
-21.42%
WBD
Warner Bros
12.72
5.01
64.98%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jul 30, 2025